Image Source: Pixabay

Fishing has been (and always will be) one of the greatest pastimes of the warmer months. Furthermore, it is one of the best weeks of the summer: SHARK WEEK!

With the open waters on people’s minds, we decided to reach out and ask some experts about their favorite summer fishing destinations and what makes them awesome. So, without further ado, here are the top 5.

1. San Diego, CA

Image Source: Pelagic Gear

Although San Diego has great fishing year-round, summer is the ideal time to be out there angling. According to local business owner Sacha Ferrandi: “It is the best time to be on the mighty Pacific because “summer is when the ecosystem is most plentiful due to the nutrients of the sea and the warmer water temperatures.” Sacha’s partner of Source Capital Texas also mentioned that a lot of San Diegans head down to Texas to fish during the winter months.

These ideal conditions attract all kinds of life beneath the sea, including Sharks, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowtail Tuna, and the Granddaddy of them all, the Yellowfin Tuna. The Yellowfin Tuna is one of the most sought-after fish in the world and it spends his summer off the coast of San Diego before heading down south to Mexico for the fall, winter, and spring.

One of the greatest things about San Diego is there are plenty of places near the shore where the Pacific is calm enough to enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon on the water. Some spots can even be fished in with a kayak!

2. Cape Cod and The Islands, MA

Image Source: On the Water

Cape Cod and The Islands are located two hours from Boston, MA and is widely considered one of the best beach destinations in the United States. It also happens to be one of the country’s best summer fishing locations due to the abundance of different species that thrive in the Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Although people make a living fishing these waters year round, the summer is the most enjoyable and plentiful. According to a local fishermen by the name of Captain Shane: “The Cape’s unique natural structures are the Labrador currents that flow down from the North and the gulf stream waters that come up from the south merging together to create a fantastically fertile bait zone attracting Tuna, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Sharks and more. We have a large population of Whales, Porpoises, and Sea Turtles in this area as well.”

3. Montauk, NY

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Montauk is a peninsula on the Northeast tip of Long Island and serves as the Eastern most point of the United States.  It is known as the quiet undeveloped beach town next to the commercialized Hamptons, and also, as one of the premier fishing towns in the United States.

Chris Gatley, an avid fisherman and outdoors writer, goes as far as calling it “the fishing capital of the world!” The summer is by far the best time to be there due to the fish from the waters of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Long Island Sound swimming by on their annual migrations.

4. Seattle, WA

Image Source: Seattle Bloggers

Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, and it also happens to be one of the best places to fish.

Seattle is a premier angling location because it is placed on one of the most nutritious parts of the Pacific Ocean, the Puget Sound. The rich waters in the Puget Sound make it an ideal habitat for an abundance of different species year round, but only during the summer can you catch the prize of the Puget Sound, the King Salmon.

5. Outer Banks, NC

Image Source: Marlin Mag

The Outer Banks are a 200-mile-long string of “barrier islands” off the coast of North Carolina and one of the most popular beach destinations in the United States. They are such a popular year-round destination because of the stunning natural beauty and temperate climate. However, if you plan on angling while on vacation, summer is the time to be there. Summer is the ideal time to fish the waters surrounding the Outer Banks because of a natural phenomenon known as the Gulf Stream.

The Gulf Stream is when the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico merge with the colder Atlantic Ocean at the tip of Florida and shoot straight up the eastern coastline of the United States. This Gulf Stream has a tremendous effect on the ecosystem of the Outer Banks because the warm summer waters attract fish such as Sailfish, White Marlin, and even the always sought-after Blue Marlin.

Conclusion

When planning a summer fishing trip with your friends or family, the 5 places above are a good place to start, but by no means limit yourself to only those destinations. The United States is home to some of the world’s best fishing, but before you book a destination, do your research because the seasonal changes that take place under the sea keep the fish constantly moving.